A migrant who fled Ireland after the killing of American expatriate Jamey Carney has been arrested in Jordan, according to Irish media reports. The man, considered a person of interest by Irish police, was detained by Jordan's Public Security Directorate after authorities learned he had returned to his native country.
Irish police confirmed they were aware of the arrest by Jordanian authorities but did not identify the individual or confirm he was the subject of their investigation. They also stated that no request had been made to Jordan for an arrest at this time. Ireland does not have an extradition treaty with Jordan.
The man had reportedly been refused asylum in Ireland but remained in the country while appealing the decision. He retained his passport, which allowed him to leave Ireland before Carney's body was discovered. His arrest marks a significant development in an international search that spanned Ireland, Turkey, and now Jordan.
Jamey Carney, 43, a New York native who moved to Ireland in 2021, was found dead in her home in Killarney, County Kerry. Detectives believe she was killed on a Monday evening, with her body discovered by her daughter the following afternoon. By the time her body was found, the man had reportedly traveled to Dublin Airport and boarded a flight to Istanbul.
According to reports, the man had expressed a desire to relocate to the United States and had told acquaintances that Carney was assisting him with his U.S. residency application. Investigators now believe the Jordanian national was with Carney on the night she was fatally assaulted.
He arrived in Ireland in 2024 and worked in the hospitality and construction sectors before becoming involved in a relationship with Carney. He had been living in state-run accommodation for asylum seekers in Killarney and spent increasing amounts of time at Carney's home after they became romantically involved. He first arrived in the United Kingdom before traveling through Northern Ireland and eventually settling in County Kerry.
Irish police have not publicly identified the person of interest, a decision that has drawn criticism. As Carney was an American citizen, an Irish police request to Interpol will be monitored by the U.S. National Central Bureau, which is staffed by personnel from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. The FBI has stated it stands ready to assist Irish authorities if requested.
Carney's social media profiles described her as a "New Yorker in Ireland" and showed her with a man she identified as her partner. She also indicated in one post that she had begun learning Arabic.